Harriet's Chapel Battlefield Park

— Battle of Kinston Military Park —

Confederate engineers built fortifications around Kinston and along the approaches from New Bern. You can see a portion of these earthworks from the boardwalk. This line of earthworks originally straddled the road to Jones Bridge, which was near the site of the current US 258/Queen Street bridge. The earthworks on this side of the road ended at the Neuse River. Those on the other side ended at a deep swamp.

Confederate engineers used Southwest Creek as a natural barrier, fortifying three bridges across the creek. They constructed earthworks on both sides of roads just north of the bridges, anchoring the works on swamps. The engineers believed that the Union troops could not or would not try to cross the swamps. They would have to assault the works head on.

North of Kinston, a ring of earthworks stretched from the river to the railroad on the city's west edge. Camp Pool, a large fortified encampment east of the city, mounted heavy artillery protecting the Neuse River approach to Kinston. Obstructions placed in the river forced boats to pass through a narrow channel, making them easy targets.

(captions)
(left) Gen. Nathan G. "Shanks" Evans, commander of the Confederate forces at Kinston.

(upper center) Earthworks at Southwest Creek near Hines Mill.

(lower center) Swamps provided a formidable natural barrier.

(lower right) The earthworks around Kinston probably resembled this earthwork near Atlanta.

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Show me all markers in:  Kinston, NC  |  Lenoir County  |  28504  |  North Carolina  |  United States of America

Caring for the Wounded
The Site of Harriet's Chapel
The Night of December 13, 1862
Fighting at Harriet's Chapel
Kinston Battlefield Park
Wessells' Advance—December 14, 1862
The Center of the Confederate Line
The Action in the Swamp
First Battle of Kinston
The Union Artillery

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